Bridge pickups for low tuning Rock/metal

[lc59]

First : hope you understand my English!

I play in a Rock / metal band, like Tool, Deftones...
I play tuned in B on a mesa Roadster head and 4*12 v30.
I'm searching a powerfull, alive, define, open driven sound.
I also want a 3D, beautiful clean sound.
I don't need extra gain my amps have a lot and I like to play the clean channel very clean.

For 2 guitars :
- a Gibson SG special : Riff Raff or Cold Sweat? my stock pickup is sweet but too muddy on driven sound.
- a Musicman Sub1 : Nailbomb? the stock pickup don't have enough an open sound.

I'll apreciate your advice!
thanks

[ailean]

Cold sweat in the SG sounds good to me.

Not sure about the Nailbomb,I have one in a Les Paul, and it's a great rock sound, breaks up well and has the clarity of all BK's. I don't really know how well it would work with B tuning, I'd probably be looking at the ceramic Warpig, it's a really versatile pup and has loads of bottom end chunk.

I'm no expert though, hopefully others will advise!

[Roobubba]

I would think an AlNiCo warpig would be more suited to your requirements than a ceramic one. That said, this might be too high output for you, and I'm short of better ideas just now. If you hang around a bit, some people who actually know stuff will turn up :)

Roo

[sambo]

I think a Warpig would be overkill if you play Tool/Deftones-type stuff.

I would recommend something from the upper end of the Vintage Hot range, although I'm not sure what.

Give Tim a ring or an e-mail! :)

[Simon D]

Holy Diver might be worth a look. It's a very clear pickup, which approves of downtuning. I've got a set in a PRS SE Singlecut, tuned down half a step, and it sounded lovely through the Roadster I owned briefly, and sounds great through my 5:50 Express too.

[Yamhammer]

I think you'll need one of the brighter, medium hot BKP pickup sets, especially since you're asking for an open, alive and beautiful clean sound through your Mesa.

I guess something like VH2's or Rebel Yells.

[lc59]

Hi,

thanks all of you for your advices!

I asked Tim for my SG and he recommended Riff Raff or Cold Sweat.
I didn't ask yet for my Musicman.

I'm very interested by advice of user.
What would be the perfect pickup to match my gear and my style?

[Yamhammer]

The Riff Raff is lower output (alnico V magnet) and the Cold Sweat is higher output (ceramic magnet).

[lc59]

I'm sure the Riff Raff deliver a sweet clean
but for the high gain driven sound (mesa) that I play 85% of the time is it powerfull, punchy, full enough?

thanks

[ericsabbath]

I don't like alnico pups through Rectos, specially the PAF voiced ones
they just don't cut well with Rectifiers... unless you use some huge booster (something more powerful and middy than a tube screamer)
these amps aren't too dynamic, so the pickups get a bit drowned

I had a Single Recto for a while and used the Holy Diver on that time, boosted with a wylde overdrive
but the Miracle Man worked a lot better with that amp
I tried the Dual and the Stiletto Deuce with some Gibson pups too and only the 500t (ceramic with a monster output) worked well

I'd recommend the Holy Diver those sounds, but not for your amp
maybe with a treble booster or a few mods on the amps input stage (a friend of mine got his Recto modded and it got like 30% better just for swapping a few resistors and caps)

but I'd try the Sweat first

[Yamhammer]

SG ->           Cold Sweat

Musicman -> Rebel Yell?

[MDV]

No nailbomb mention?

I vote nailbomb in the sg and holy diver in the musicman

[lc59]

I asked Tim for my others guitars , his answer :
Gibson SG : Riff Raff or Cold Sweat
Gibson les paul : Rebel Yell
Musicman Sub1 : nailbomb

[gwEm]

you ask about low tunings.... cold sweat works really well for this without getting muddy.

[lc59]

I read a lot on this forum and I’m hesitating on Cold Sweat or Holy Driver.

For my Gibsons and Mesa what would be the perfect match?
I’m searching a full, punchy, alive, 3d, modern driven sound .
Punchy power cords but definition and beautiful sound for distorded arpege.
And a warm clean…

I wanted to buy the Cold Sweat but I hesitate because of the ceramic magnet.
I found the ceramic sound cold on my Explorer (500T).